Trying hard to find a job? What on earth am I doing wrong?

ellie101

grey_lady wrote: »

Be aware though that sometimes they will be 'fishing' for leads - never give out the contact details for your references until you've secured an interview chances are you'll never hear from them again.

hth

Yup, agree with that. In the field I'm in they ring you up and ask for references, and also ask who you are interviewing with so they can send their candidates in your place. One of the agents told me to never say who I was being interviewed by to an agent.

OP, re. volunteering, I'd probably register now just in case you can't get a job straight away. I've been unemployed for over 6 mths now, and held-off as was sure I'd get a job. Some volunteering roles need CRB checks, and it can take 3 months or so.

I regret not doing it for even a few hours a week before as I know it helps you get skills in other areas, someone I know got a job from doing volunteering for 6mths.

Good luck.

spiritus

unemployedbloke wrote: »

I have now been unemployed for 3 months, and it's bloody rotten.

I have been involved in trade development for the last 10 years or so, but every time I apply for jobs, I either hear nothing back, or I don't get them. My CV is up to scratch, and has been checked by someone in the know. I have also been on an interview techniques course arranged by the job centre, so I know I am giving sufficient answers in interviews. I have also been to a course showing me how to find hidden and unadvertised vacancies.

What really hacks me off is that most of the jobs in my field are advertised via recruitment agencies, and more often than not they just fabricate vacancies to get jobhunters enrolled with them - one particular job required me to travel nearly 50 miles to the offices of the recruitment agency: the job opportunityI was interested in did not actually exist.

My last interview required me to drive around 40 miles in the p!ss!ing slushy snow. I spent nearly £40 on temporary car insurance and £20 on petrol specially to get there. The interview went well: I showed terrific competence, they told me my skills and knowledge were ideal for the job, and they promised to inform me of their decision within 10 days: 2 weeks came and went, and nothing. I decided to ring them in case they had forgotten about me, to be told they had loads more people to see, (So bloody nice of them to leave me hanging).

I have also sent a really nice letter along with my CV to virtually every manufacturer and supplier in my field (Around 40-50 companies). To date only one of these companies have replied saying they will keep my details on file. Why won't more companies at least email me or something to say 'thanks but no thanks'? I can appreciate business may be slow at this time of year, but hey....

Going to the jobcentre is mind-numbing. I go there, all revved up to find a job, but the place is just full of 5h!tk!ckers who have no intention of working, and the job centre staff all treat me as if I can't be bothered either, when it is not the case.

Can anyone offer me any more advice on what I might be doing wrong? I really am trying everything. Please

I feel for you. I am pig sick or agencies ! They are double glazing salemen pretending to be "consultants".

I am VERY interested in why you think they advertise dummy job vacancies as I've suspected this for some time and I might even start a one man crusade to get this outlawed !

iamana1ias

You could try using a different coloured paper for your cv and letter. Nothing too wild, just not white. Will be more noticable on the desk and more likely to stand out

teabelly

I thought it was already illegal for an agency to advertise a job that didn't exist??? What really bugs me is when they advertise jobs that are 'commutable from'. I don't want to know that. I want to know where the dratted job is!

I'm tempted to start an online agency where employers only advertise and recruiters aren't allowed anywhere near it. Soon sort out the wheat from the chaff :-)